And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:15-16).
My friend died.
The one fighting cancer–I’ve mentioned him a time or two. He battled like a champ for five months. People prayed for him–lots of people. Prayers offered in faith that the God of the universe was fully capable of raising John from his bed of pain and restoring him to light and life. Prayers offered by men and women clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
I know…some of those prayers were mine.
And yet, last night I was at a meeting of people preparing his funeral.
This morning, I look at this Scripture and I…
sigh.
Is God a liar? No, I can’t buy that. He is the very nature of Truth. His word declares it. His Spirit confirms it. If God is not truth, well then pack it in boys and girls, because it’s all dust.
Is God too weak to heal? See above.
So what am I not getting? I understand that there are layers of meaning here, that James is talking about spiritual healing as well as physical healing. Hence the discussion about confession and forgiveness. But, ugh, that just feels kinda like a cop-out, you know–like the kind of thing you tell an unbeliever who points out that people die all the time and prayers don’t help them. I also get that prayers aren’t magic incantations. We don’t manipulate God; what we pray must be in accordance with his will if he is to honor it. But that brings up the whole “Why do we pray if God is just going to do what he wants anyway?” discussion, and…oy.
I read the commentary of one scholar who stated that while these verses are written as unconditional promises, they aren’t meant to be unconditional promises.
That didn’t help.
Beloved, I’m not trying to sour your orange juice this morning. But these verses are tough for me. Especially today. Mornings like this are when I have to step back and remind myself that God is very big, and I am very small. My friend John is providing “evidence of things unseen,” even at this moment. In every way that truly matters, John is well and whole and has been restored to Light and Life.
But sometimes faith hurts
and trust is hard.
Someday, Beloved, it will all make sense.
Your last sentence is your answer.
Truth, my brother.
Amen and oy and ugh and grrr and phew and eeek and “Lord, I believe; heal my unbelief.”
Thank you, Brother, for continuing to remain full of the raw and real beauty that is You (His glory in an earthen vessel)…it’s radiant and poignant and marvelous.
Love you!
Luke 22:42-44 (in Gethsemane)
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
I have thought the thoughts you are thinking as I have passed through my own personal Gethsemane’s from time to time. I’m faithful. I’m imperfect. Absolutely imperfect, but faithful. Here’s one thing I have come to learn… Even Christ, our Savior, felt a burden too much to bear. His thought in that moment was, Father remove this cup, but had the faith to allow the Father’s will to take place in his life. My thought is that it is a humbling experience to accept that I am praying for something that I personally want. It is also a strengthening experience to pray for “thy will be done”. As I had a close family member pass through the veil of death, I too prayed for his recovery. As death was eminent, and as I followed the example of a righteous woman in my life, I realized that the fathers will was for him to return home to be with Him. This changed my prayers. I no longer prayed that he be healed, but rather that he be given peace, and comfort knowing he was a faith filled man. I prayed for my own strength and peace and comfort. I prayed for a more sure understanding of life, death, and the eternities. I prayed to know if he would be with a God and Savior that we both loved. As I did this, (vs. 43) I was strengthened. My family was strengthened. Our Testimonies became more firmly rooted in our Savior. We turned to Him! He too had experienced a pain he felt unbearable but the Father did not leave him to bear it alone. I believe the purpose of this life is to come unto Christ and know Him and utilize the repenting but also the strengthening and enabling peer of the atonement. Your prayers were not in vein. They were offered in faith. In other circumstances, because you ask in faith, and because it is within the parameters of the will of the Father miracles will take place. Other times as the Fathers will is done, those prayers then become a strengthening vessels which draw us closer to the Savior. He will strengthen you. I will continue to pray for Chris and John’s family and dear friends. I know that the Lord will not leave you alone during this Gethsemane in your lives. He will send angels to strengthen you. Pray more earnestly (vs.44) pray to recognize His will and for the strength of Angels to accept it and feel of his great love for you, John and all of his children. Wait and watch for those angels and the miracles they bring as you bear this burden. You will not bear your burdens alone.